4.3 Preview: The Dragon Soul Raid And Transmogrification Rules

The Dragon Soul Raid

World of Warcraft patch 4.3 will offer players the opportunity to take the fight to Wyrmrest Temple and beyond, assisting Thrall and the Dragon Aspects as they seek to bring an end to the Black Dragonflight once and for all. 10- and 25-person raids will get to take on Deathwing himself, with three levels of difficulty to consider and epic gear to claim.

Forged by Deathwing during the War of the Ancients, the Dragon Soul harnessed the power of the other dragonflights, until it was ultimately destroyed. After recovering a version of the artifact from the Caverns of Time, Thrall and the allied dragonflights now rally at Wyrmrest Temple in a desperate bid to use its might to defeat Deathwing.

Created by the titans as a sanctuary for all Dragonkind, the crumbling Wyrmrest Temple is now the final hope for the forces allied against the black dragon Neltharion, once the Earth-Warder and protector of Azeroth, now Deathwing the Destroyer. It is here that the remaining aspects -- Alexstrasza, Ysera, Nozdormu, Kalecgos, and Thrall -- have gathered to empower the Dragon Soul -- Azeroth's last chance to stop the great behemoth. As they begin to charge the Dragon Soul with energy, Deathwing and his entire army assault Wyrmrest Temple. Players must thwart the attacking forces long enough for Thrall to charge the Dragon Soul.

Before you face Deathwing the Destroyer, you must prevail against six mighty bosses.

The most powerful elemental still under Deathwing's sway, Morchok -- once a passive guardian -- is now convinced that his only respite will come with Azeroth's demise. Morchok rages against the foundation of Wyrmrest Temple, Azeroth's last beacon of hope in the Hour of Twilight.

Countless ages ago, Warlord Zon'ozz and his soldiers waged endless war against the forces of C'Thun and Yogg-Saron. Millennia have passed, but the warlord still serves the chaotic might of the Old God N'Zoth. Deathwing has now unleashed this legendary faceless one to crush the defenders of Wyrmrest Temple.

Since the fall of the Bastion of Twilight, Yor'sahj the Unsleeping has eagerly assisted Deathwing, providing the Destroyer with the means to release more faceless ones from their prisons deep beneath the earth. Their numbers are endless and their power is beyond reckoning, and Yor'sahj intends to reap a grim reward for his faithful service.

Hagara the Binder, one of the first students of arcane magic under the Forsaken, showed surprising potential for one who had started learning so late in life. But in her undisciplined attempts to bind elementals into servitude, she was ensnared and twisted by the Windlord, Al'Akir. Now fiercely loyal to the Twilight's Hammer, Hagara binds others for her elemental masters to torment.

More an abomination of dark energy than a dragon, Ultraxion has spent his short life absorbing the essence of captured nether dragons. Ultraxion is the only twilight dragon Deathwing has praised, and his arrogance is overshadowed only by the crackling energies surging through his twisted form. Loyal to his master, Ultraxion swears to bring about the fall of Wyrmrest Temple.

Though once vast in number, only a few dozen twilight dragons now remain. Astride these hardened survivors are the last vestiges of the Twilight's Hammer's army: the elite drake riders of Deathwing's personal escort. Led by the insidious Warmaster Blackhorn, they move with unholy purpose, driven to protect their dark master.

When Deathwing first channeled the Dragon Soul's power against the other dragonflights, the massive energies that he unleashed threatened to break him apart. Rather than forgo this weapon, he had adamantium plates fused to his scales to hold his body together. Later reinforced with elementium, these plates are now his weakness -- the sole vulnerability to Deathwing's lethal presence.

Your assault on the massive Deathwing will begin a battle unlike any other. It is a fight so wide-ranging and intense that it comprises two unique encounters, taking place across Azeroth. Taking to the skies, players will parachute from soaring gunships to attack the monster mid-flight and attempt to weaken him by ripping away his armor, exposing the molten flesh beneath. Should they succeed, they will plunge into the depths of Maelstrom for the final encounter.

No adventurer has yet taken on an enemy so large and dangerous and lived to tell the tale. Will you?

Rules on Transmogrification

Since we announced the transmogrification feature coming to World of Warcraft with patch 4.3, we have monitored thousands of follow-up comments, questions and suggestions from players all over the world.

What follows is our current list of rules for transmogrification. This is a set of rules that we expect to change over time, and is not intended to be 100% comprehensive, but we hope that it can be referenced to answer most questions that players currently have about what they can and cannot expect to be able to do with transmogrification.

The character must be able to equip both items.

Only common (green), rare (blue) or epic (purple) items may be transmogrified. (exceptions: a select few of these items will prevented from being used to transmogrify if they are inappropriate)

Items must share the same armor type (examples: plate for plate, cloth for cloth)

Weapons must be the same weapon type (exceptions: Guns, Crossbows, or Bows)

Guns, Crossbows, and Bows can be used to transmogrify Guns, Crossbows, or Bows.

Main hand weapons can only be used to transmogrify Main hand weapons.

Off-hand weapons can only be used to transmogrify Off-hand weapons.

One handed weapons can be used to transmogrify a Main hand or Off-hand weapon.

Using an item for transmogrify makes it soulbound.

Using an item for transmogrify makes it non-refundable.

Using an item for transmogrify makes it non-tradable.

Heirlooms and Account Bound items can be transmogrified.

Heirlooms and Account Bound items can be used to transmogrify.

Legendary items cannot be transmogrified.

Legendary items cannot be used to transmogrify.

Fishing Poles cannot be transmogrified.

Fishing Poles cannot be used to transmogrify.

Mailing an item strips its transmogrification.

Placing an item in Void Storage strips its transmogrification.

Vendoring an item strips its transmogrification.

The displayed enchant will be that of the currently equipped item.

There may be individual items that are excluded from being transmogrified on the basis that they were originally added to the game as absurdities. (examples: a weapon that looks like a fish, or a chest piece that is invisible)

Comment by Adamsm

Comment by hellwraith

Hmmm... interesting... very interesting. The bosses sound really cool, and very nice of Blizzard to put out the info about transmogrification.

Comment by rageahol

on 2011-09-19T20:39:03-05:00

Thrall is the new earthwarder?

Comment by Interest

on 2011-09-19T20:45:24-05:00

Guns, Crossbows, and Bows can be used to transmogrify Guns, Crossbows, or Bows.

OMG YES.

Thrall is the new earthwarder?

I think only in interim, like in Twilight of the Aspects.

Comment by nobar550

on 2011-09-19T20:51:34-05:00

Currently un-subed ATM (financial reasons), but in the immortal words of Invader Zim: the weenie tempts you. GAH!

Comment by Varicelle

on 2011-09-19T21:44:20-05:00

The displayed enchant will be that of the currently equipped item.

aww but i wanted to show (off) my beloved Tempest of Chaos in all its naked glory /sadface

Comment by mailboxhead

on 2011-09-19T21:59:46-05:00

Did we hear anything yet about if the item we use to transmog will be available for further transmog use or if it will be used up in the process?

Comment by TomatoSauce

on 2011-09-19T22:02:42-05:00

I've noticed the old god mouth in Ultraxion's shot.

Comment by Orranis

on 2011-09-19T22:03:41-05:00

They used General Vezax model AGAIN? I mean, I loved the boss, one of my favorites of all time, lore, fight, and looks-wise, but seriously?

It's just... Being overused to the point where it's not "General Vezax" anymore, it's "Named Faceless General/Duke/Whatever #01."

Comment by Varicelle

on 2011-09-19T22:05:39-05:00

Did we hear anything yet about if the item we use to transmog will be available for further transmog use or if it will be used up in the process?

My priest shall transmogrify her Benediction on ALL THE THINGS! Seriously though, wouldn't it defeat the purpose?

Comment by Voltt

on 2011-09-19T23:02:38-05:00

Can someone explain to me the difference between the Dragon Soul and the Demon Soul? I thought they were one thing.

EDIT: I remember using something, the Demon Chain, in a Twilight Highlands quest. Maybe that's what I'm thinking of? Can someone explain to me the importance of that item, too?

EDIT 2: Nevermind, I went to wowpedia and found out for myself.

Comment by OverZealous

on 2011-09-20T00:31:20-05:00

I'm currently not subscribed and I don't really want to because I have lots of time now, but this...

DAMN.

Comment by bakerq

on 2011-09-20T01:19:03-05:00

IIRC: When Neltharion created it it was called the Dragon Soul as he had everyone believe it was to destroy the demons of the burning crusade. When he first used it and revealed his betrayal of the other aspects, it was referred to as the Demon Soul.

Comment by Sinespe

on 2011-09-20T02:23:49-05:00

with three levels of difficulty to consider

Hm.

Comment by ManaAlchemist

on 2011-09-20T02:45:36-05:00

Damn this raid looks awesome. Kinda wish i didn't have a job so i had time to get into raiding. :)

There may be individual items that are excluded from being transmogrified on the basis that they were originally added to the game as absurdities. (examples: a weapon that looks like a fish, or a chest piece that is invisible)

Aw, and i wanted to use that invisible leather chest piece (though i can't remember it's name). :P

Comment by Hakunamatata

on 2011-09-20T03:01:47-05:00

There may be individual items that are excluded from being transmogrified on the basis that they were originally added to the game as absurdities. (examples: a weapon that looks like a fish, or a chest piece that is invisible)

Noooo, I was just getting ready for my Illian look!

Comment by zomg5

on 2011-09-20T03:20:36-05:00

3 difficulty levels of being easy mode for raid finder, normal and heroic.not sure if raid finder would be a cross server thing though like RDF and btw i do wish for something like legendary/chaotic mode instead of easy